KR20130000382A - Electrochromic glazing with series-connected cells, and production method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes at least one substrate and a layer structure attached to the substrate, the layer structure having at least two electrode layers and a first electrochemically active layer and a second electrochemically active layer disposed therebetween, the active layers each being Suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, the first active layer consists of an electrochromic material and the two active layers relate to electrochromic glazing separated from one another by an electrolyte layer. In this case, the layer structure is subdivided into electrochromic cells series-connected by one or a plurality of transition regions, each transition region comprising: a first trench subdividing the first electrode layer into first electrode sections electrically insulated from each other; A second trench that subdivides the second electrode layer into second electrode sections electrically insulated from each other; And a third trench disposed between the first trench and the second trench, the third trench being filled with an electrically conductive material electrically connecting the first and second electrode sections of the cells adjacent to the transition region to each other. The invention also relates to a manufacturing method for producing first to third trenches having a layer structure corresponding to a substrate.

Description

ELECTROCHROMIC GLAZING WITH SERIES-CONNECTED CELLS, AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the technical field of optically active components, in a general form, to an electrochromic glazing in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and a method of manufacturing the same.

Electrochromic glazings, in which the optical transmission can be changed by supplying power, are known per se and have been variously described in the patent literature. See, for example, European patents EP 0338876, EP 0408427, EP 0628849, EP 1859319 B1 and US patent 5,985,486.

Generally, electrochromic glazing includes at least one transparent substrate on which a series of layers comprising a plurality of functional layers is stacked. The series of layers usually includes two electrode layers and two electrochemically active layers disposed between them and separated from each other by an electrolyte layer. Each of the two active layers can reversibly store small ions (eg, H ⁺ , Li ⁺ ), at least one of these two layers corresponding to the stored or released state of the ions and having different oxidation states with different colors. It consists of an electrochromic material having. By applying voltages of different polarities, the storage or emission of ions can be adjusted to selectively affect optical transmission. Electrochromic glazings are used, in particular, in buildings and automobiles to steplessly adjust the amount of incident light.

As evidenced by the practice, the switching time of the electrochromic glazings required to change the optical transmission increases significantly as the glazing area increases. This disappointes, for example, the effectiveness of the electrochromic glazing used to control room temperature, for example. In addition, rapid changes in the optical transmission of the glazing can be very important to the user, for example, to prevent effective glare from sunlight when changing the light conditions.

Those skilled in the art know that the main reason for the increase in the surface area-dependent switching time of the electrochromic glazing is the only limited electrical conductivity of the transparent electrode layer. Depending on the composition of the electrode layer and its layer thickness, the electrical sheet resistance of the transparent electrode layer is typically about 5 Ω to 80 Ω.

International patent application WO 00/57243 A1 discloses coating an electrode layer made of a transparent metal oxide with a network of conductive pastes in order to increase the conductivity of the electrode layer. The methods presented in this document are not only technically relatively complex, but also require additional processing steps to generate higher process temperatures, especially for drying conductive pastes.

In contrast, it is an object of the present invention to enable an alternative that can shorten the switching time of electrochromic glazing.

These and other objects, as the present invention suggests, are achieved by electrochromic glazing with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are based on the features of the dependent claims.

Electrochromic glazing, in general form, comprises at least one substrate made of a transparent material and a layer structure attached on the substrate, the layer structure consisting of a plurality of functional layers. It should be understood that the glazing does not necessarily contain one or a plurality of glass substrates, but may be made of a material other than glass, for example plastic.

The layer structure of the electrochromic glazing comprises two electrode layers, hereinafter referred to as first and second electrode layers, each of which is made of a material having a high electron conductivity. Between the two electrode layers, two electrochemically active layers, referred to hereinafter as first and second active layers, are arranged, which are suitable for reversibly incorporating ions. Here, the first active layer is made of an electrochromic material and acts as a chromophoric layer by the ability to electrically control the change in optical transmission (transparency), while the second active layer acts as an ion storage layer or counter electrode. The two active layers are separated from each other by an electrolyte layer made of a material that exhibits very low or no electron conductivity while exhibiting high ionic conductivity for ions that can be reversibly incorporated into at least two active layers. In the first active layer, the optical transmittance can be varied in that the cathode or anode electrochromic material, in particular, can be changed by cathode connection in the case of cathode electrochromic material and by anode connection in the case of anode electrochromic material. Materials can be used as the electrochromic material. The ion storage layer or counter electrode may be made of a material which does not change the optical transmittance or changes in such a manner that the color development of the first active layer is enhanced. In the latter case, the ion storage layer may be made of, for example, an anode electrochromic material if the first active layer is made of a cathode electrochromic material and a cathode electrochromic material if the first active layer is made of an anode electrochromic material. have.

The electrochromic glazing according to the invention is substantially different in that the layer structure is subdivided into electrochromic cells which are series-connected by one or a plurality of transition regions. Electrochromic glazing can be considered a series-connection of a capacitance (cell). In the present specification, a "transition zone" is a region of a layer structure in which a trench structure composed of three trenches is provided. Thus, each transition region includes a first trench that subdivides the first electrode layer into first electrode sections that are electrically insulated from each other, a second trench that subdivides the second electrode layer into second electrode sections that are electrically insulated from each other, And a third trench filled with an electrically conductive material, electrically connecting the first electrode section and the second electrode section of the two cells adjacent to the transition region with each other. In the trench structure, the third trench is disposed between the first and second trenches. In series-connection of cells, a particular sequence of trenches is maintained within each transition region, the first trenches always being located on either side of the third trench, and the second trenches are always located on the other side of the third trench. .

The electrochromic glazing according to the present invention can provide particularly fast switching times, which can be faster than comparable values in conventional electronic glazings by subdividing the layer structure into a plurality of electrochromic cells. By means of a series-connected cell integrated in a monolithic type, the electrochromic glazing according to the invention can be produced cost-effectively and conveniently in an industrial series cell production manner using conventional methods.

In one advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the second electrode layer is disposed over the first electrode layer, and the third trench of each transition region is filled with an electrically conductive material of the second electrode layer. In this way, a third trench filled with an electrically conductive material can be produced technically particularly simply and cost-effectively.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the first trench of each transition region is filled with the material of one of two electrochemically active layers, with the first trench disposed on top of each other active layer. It may be advantageous to be filled with the material of. This makes it possible to produce a technically particularly simple and cost-effective first trench filled with an electrically insulating material, provided that the material of the active layer is, as in most cases, very low or substantially free of electronic conductivity. Likewise, the first trench can also be filled with the material of the electrolyte layer.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the second trench of each transition region can be subdivided into the first electrode section, so that particularly effective electrical insulation of adjacent electrochromic cells can be obtained.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the layer structure comprises a top coating of electrically insulating material, disposed over the second electrode layer and covering the layer structure, the second trench of each transition region being the top coating. Filled with insulating material. By doing this, filling the second trench with an electrically insulating material can be carried out technically very simply and cost effectively. As another method or as a further step, another (secondary) substrate may be provided which is a transparent substrate made of glass or the like. In this case the layer structure is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Since a series-connected electrochromic cell must have its polarity reversed quickly during the switching process, a very small difference in capacitance can cause strong voltages and / or instantaneous currents that can permanently damage the cell. Thus, in another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, each electrochromic cell is provided with a device for limiting the voltage applied to the cell, such device having, for example, a predetermined breakdown voltage. Anti-parallel-connected diodes (based on the polarity of the power supply (eg voltage supply) for the connection of the electrode layers). The diode may be composed of, for example, a zener diode. By the voltage limiting device coupled to each cell, it is advantageous to provide overvoltage protection to each cell. By using an antiparallel-connected diode, it is only necessary to match the breakdown voltage of the diode to the actual voltage and / or current peaks.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the maximum width of each transition region is between 100 μm and 500 μm, preferably between 150 μm and 250 μm. The width of the transition region is in each case measured perpendicular to the path of the trench contained therein. Similarly, the distance between adjacent trenches in one and the same transition region, measured perpendicular to the path of the trench, is at least 50 μm and / or the width of each trench, measured perpendicular to the path of the trench, ranges from 30 μm to 100 μm. It may also be advantageous. Through this, on the one hand, as little loss of the electrochromic glazing optical active area as possible and on the other hand a reliable and robust series-connection of the electrochromic cell can be obtained with conventional structuring techniques. In addition, since the trench can be seen by the viewer as a very thin line, an attractive appearance electrochromic glazing can be obtained. The substrates may, for example, have a length and width in the range of 0.5 m to 3 m, respectively.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, on the opposite surface on which the layer structure of the substrate is laminated, one or a plurality of opaque (non-transparent) cover elements are respectively combined with and completely covering the transition region. By providing it, an attractive appearance can be obtained. In electrochromic glazings with two substrates interposed with a layer structure, an opaque strip may be provided on either substrate and / or on another substrate.

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the electrochromic glazing has a power supply (eg a voltage source) for the connection of a series-connected battery, wherein the voltage of the power supply is the number of cells As a function of, a voltage of 0.5 volts to 3 volts, preferably 1.2 volts to 1.8 volts, is selected for each cell upon application of a voltage by the power supply. This allows the electrochromic glazing to be operated with a switching voltage which is particularly advantageous for practical use. It may be particularly advantageous for the power supply for the connection of the two electrode layers to have a maximum voltage of 1000 volts, preferably 120 volts. The voltage may be in particular 30 volts to 50 volts, for example, so as not to exceed the maximum supply voltage for facade elements which are legally required in some countries. In general, when the voltage provided by the power source is V _b and the given switching voltage of the cell is V _s , the number n of cells can be determined by the formula n = V _b / V _s .

In another advantageous embodiment of the electrochromic glazing according to the invention, the layer structure is subdivided into a plurality of cell regions electrically insulated from one another by one or a plurality of fourth trenches traversing the first to third trenches, The regions each contain a plurality of series-connected electrochromic cells, for example connected in parallel by two common contact elements. The battery regions are monolithically integrated or connected in parallel by cabling. Parallel-connected cell regions are particularly advantageous as they can cover a relatively large area with electrochromic glazing without the need to increase the supply voltage in a corresponding manner. The battery region may be configured as a self-component or an electrochromic module.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of electrochromic glazings, the process of

A layer structure attached to and on a substrate, the layer structure having at least two electrode layers and a first electrochemically active layer and a second electrochemically active layer disposed therebetween, the active layers each being suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions and The first active layer is made of an electrochromic material and acts as a chromophoric layer, the second active layer acts as an ion storage layer, and the two active layers are separated from each other by an electrolyte layer;

(B) generating a first trench that subdivides the first electrode layer of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections electrically insulated from each other;

(B) generating a second trench that subdivides the second electrode layer of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections electrically insulated from each other; And

(B) generating a third trench filled with an electrically conductive material, each disposed between the first trench and the second trench and electrically connecting the first electrode section (adjacent) and the second electrode section to each other.

The invention also relates to the use of electrochromic glazings as described above, for example, in building facilities such as buildings, houses, apartments, and / or vehicles, such as cars, and / or airplanes, cargo planes, sporting planes and the like. And as a means of at least partially delimiting space in the same aircraft, and / or in ships such as cruise ships, container ships, sport exploration ships.

The present invention also has at least one substrate and a layer structure attached to the substrate, the layer structure having at least two electrode layers, a first electrochemically active layer and a second electrochemically active layer disposed therebetween, 1 The active layer relates to an electrochromic glazing in which the electrochromic material is composed of two active layers separated from each other by an electrolyte layer. What is important here is that the layer structure is subdivided into electrochromic cells that are series-connected by one or a plurality of transition regions, each transition region being

A first trench that subdivides the first of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections electrically insulated from each other,

A second trench that subdivides the second of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections electrically insulated from each other, and

(B) a third trench disposed between the first and second trenches, the third trench being filled with an electrically conductive material electrically connecting the first and second electrode sections of the cells adjacent to the transition region to each other.

Such electrochromic glazings can be constructed according to the above embodiments.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of electrochromic glazings, the process of

A layer structure attached to a substrate and a substrate, the layer structure having at least two electrode layers and a first electrochemically active layer and a second electrochemically active layer disposed therebetween, the first active layer being made of an electrochromic material and Providing the layer structure wherein the two active layers are separated from each other by an electrolyte layer;

(B) generating a first trench that subdivides the first electrode layer of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections electrically insulated from each other;

(B) generating a second trench that subdivides the second electrode layer of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections electrically insulated from each other; And

(B) generating a third trench filled with an electrically conductive material, each disposed between the first trench and the second trench and electrically connecting the first electrode section and the second electrode section to each other.

It should be understood that various embodiments of the invention may be realized individually or in any combination. In particular, the above-mentioned features and the features to be described below can be used not only in the form of the presented combinations but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in connection with exemplary embodiments.
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic glazing in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the electrochromic glazing of FIG. 1.
3 is a schematic top view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic glazing in accordance with the present invention.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic glazing in accordance with the present invention.
5 is a schematic top view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic glazing in accordance with the present invention.

1 illustrates, as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an electrochromic glazing, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, here embodied in, for example, a composite layer structure. The optical transmission of the electrochromic glazing 1 can be changed by applying a DC voltage and / or a DC power source of appropriate size and polarity. For this purpose, a voltage source or power (not shown) is provided, the anode connection 3 and the cathode connection 4 of which are schematically shown in FIG. 1.

The electrochromic glazing 1 comprises at least one transparent substrate 2 and a layer structure 5 attached on the first surface 6 of the substrate 2. The transparent substrate may be made of a glass or non-glass material, for example soda lime glass or borofloat glass, for example at a thickness of 0.7 to 10 mm, in particular 2 mm. The substrate 2 may be, for example, about 1000 mm long and about 500 mm wide.

The layer structure 5 comprises at least five functional layers, which are stacked on the substrate 6 in the following order: first electrode layer 7 laminated on the first surface 6 of the substrate 2. ), The second active layer 8 stacked on the first electrode layer 7, the electrolyte layer 9 stacked on the second active layer 8, and the first active layer 10 stacked on the electrolyte layer 9. And a second electrode layer 11 stacked on the first active layer 10. The layer structure 5 thus comprises two electrode layers 7, 11, two electrochemically active layers 8, 10 arranged therebetween, which are separated from one another by an electrolyte layer 9. Although not shown in the figures, the layer structure 5 further contains a passivation layer between the first layer 6 and the first electrode layer 7, for example the substrate 2. can do.

In general, the two electrode layers 7, 11 can be made, for example, of transparent conductive metal oxides (TCO), which are well known to those skilled in the art, for example through the cited references mentioned earlier in this specification. In particular, the electrode layers 7, 11 can be, for example, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO ₂ : F), zinc oxide (ZnO), or aluminum-doped zinc oxide. (ZnO: Al) may be contained. Likewise, the electrode layers 7, 11 may contain metals or alloys such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), aluminum (Al) or mixtures thereof. In addition, two electrode layers 7, 11 can be made of a conductive layer stack, for example a stack consisting of a doped metal oxide layer and a metal layer. The electrode layers 7, 11 may contain a layer stack of NiCr / metal / NiCr, where the metal is, for example, gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), Aluminum (Al) or mixtures thereof. In particular, the two electrode layers 7, 11 can be made of a silver (Ag) -based transparent conductive layer stack. The two electrode layers 7, 11 can be made of one same material or made of different materials. The first electrode layer 7 may, for example, have a sheet resistance of 8 Ω while the second electrode layer 11 has a sheet resistance, for example of 80 Ω.

The two active layers 8, 10 are each made of a material suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, where the first active layer 10 is made of, for example, a cathode electrochromic material and acts as a chromophoric layer, Optical transmission can be changed by the storage and release of ions and the change in oxidation state that occurs at the same time. The second active layer 8 acts as an ion storage layer or counter electrode and does not change its optical transmittance with storage and release of ions.

The electrochromic material of the chromogenic first active layer 10 is, for example, a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, niobium oxide, indium oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, bismuth oxide, antimony oxide and titanium oxide. Or a mixture of materials. The above mentioned materials or mixtures thereof may also comprise titanium, tantalum or rhenium. The second active layer 8 serving as the counter electrode is, for example, a material or material selected from the group consisting of tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, niobium oxide, indium oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, bismuth oxide, antimony oxide and titanium oxide. It may include a mixture of. The above mentioned materials or mixtures thereof may also comprise titanium, tantalum or rhenium. Similarly, any other material suitable as a counter electrode can be used. The two active layers 8, 10 can be, for example, 480 mm wide and 980 mm long, corresponding to 10 mm uncoated from the peripheral edge of the layer structure 5.

As a material of the electrolyte layer 9 suitable for ion transport, for example, a polymer layer or an inorganic layer can be used. The electrolyte layer 9 is, for example, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon nitride, molybdenum oxide, antimony oxide, nickel oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, niobium oxide, chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, or oxide. Titanium, zinc oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, tin-zinc oxide, vanadium oxide or mixtures thereof, at least one of the oxides may be hydrated or nitrified. Materials that can be used for the various functional layers of the layer structure 5 are well known to those skilled in the art, for example through the cited references mentioned earlier in this specification. With regard to functional layers, reference may be made to the abovementioned documents, and the whole is therefore part of this specification.

In the electrochromic glazing 1, the layer structure 5 is subdivided into a plurality of series-connected cells 12 by a plurality of transition regions 13. Although four cells 12 and three transition regions 13 are shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that the electrochromic glazing 1 may have more or fewer cells 12. If the supply voltage V _b of the power connected to the electrochromic glazing is, for example, 48 volts, and the given switching voltage V _s of the battery 12 is 1.6 volts, the number n of the batteries 12 is, for example, 30 (n = 48 / 1.6 = 30).

In order to subdivide the electrochromic glazing 1 into several cells 12, each transition region 13 is provided with a set of trenches 14 to 16 that are parallel to each other. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the trenches 14 to 16 have a linear progression, for example, and are arranged parallel to the first surface 6 of the substrate 2 over the entire layer structure 5. . The trenches 14 to 16 are each embossed as vertical trenches, perpendicular to the first surface 6 of the substrate 2. Although not shown in the figures, the trenches 14-16 may proceed in a nonlinear fashion, such as curved, waved, sawtoothed, or other polygonal form capable of, for example, stripped series-connection of the battery 12. Each transition region 13 includes a first trench 14, a second trench 15, and a third trench 16, the order of trenches 14 to 16 being the same in all transition regions 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the third trench 16 is disposed between the first trench 14 and the second trench 15, and the first trench 14 is always on either side of the third trench 16. In turn, the second trench 15 is always located on the other side of the third trench 16.

In each transition region 13, a first trench 14 is formed in the electrolyte layer 9, the second active layer 8 and the first electrode layer 7 and filled with the material of the first active layer 10. In particular, the first electrode layer 7 is subdivided into a plurality of first electrode sections 17 by the first trenches 14, the electrode sections are electrically insulated from each other, and the electrochromic material of the first electrode layer ( 10) generally have very low or no electronic conductivity. On the other hand, the second trench 15 continues to extend from the second electrode layer 11 to the first electrode layer 7, so that the second trench 15 has the second electrode layer 11 and the first active layer 10. And an electrolyte layer 9 and a second active layer 8. In particular, the second electrode layer 11 is subdivided into a plurality of second electrode sections 18 by the second trench 15, the electrode sections being electrically insulated from each other. Although not shown in the figures, the electrochromic glazing 1 may be provided with a top coating made of a material having very low or no electronic conductivity, covering the layer structure 5, the top coating material being a second trench upon attachment. (15) penetrates and fills the second trench 15 with the material of the top coating. In addition, the third trench 16 extends from the first active layer 10 to the first electrode layer 7 so that the third trench 16 has the first active layer 10, the electrolyte layer 9, and the second active layer ( 8) is formed inside. In this process, the third trench 16 is filled with the material of the second electrode layer 11. The electrically conductive connection between the second electrode section 18 of one cell 12 adjacent to the transition region 13 and the first electrode section 17 of the other cell 12 adjacent to the transition region 13 is first provided. Created by three trenches 16, whereby cells 12 are series-connected to each other. In FIG. 1, for example, the second electrode section 18 is electrically connected to the first electrode section 17 adjacent to each right side. The electrochromic glazing 1 can be subdivided by the transition region 13, for example into 30 cells 12, each cell 1.58 mm wide and 980 mm long, on the substrate 2. It can be arranged parallel to each other in the form of a strip.

In the electrochromic glazing 1, the series-connected electrode sections 17, 18 are electrically connected to two contact strips 19, 20, for example made of metallic material, and the first contact strip 19 Is connected to the distal first electrode section 17 and the second contact strip 20 is connected to the distal second electrode section 18. The electrochromic glazing 1 has a capacitance as a charge storage device, which can be charged and discharged through a power supply connected to two contact strips 19, 20. The series-connected electrochromic cell 12 acts as a charge storage on its own and can be considered as a series-connected capacitor. In FIG. 1 this is schematically represented by the thick line. By being connected to the anode and cathode connections 3, 4 of the power supply, color development (reduced optical emission) or discoloration (increased optical transmission) of the electrochromic glazing 1 can occur as required. In FIG. 1, when the first contact strip 19 is connected to the anode contact 3 of the power supply and the second contact strip 20 is connected to the cathode contact 4, a first electrode made of a cathode electrochromic material The optical transmittance of the active layer 10 may be changed electrically. For example, when a voltage of 48 volts is applied, the electrochromic glazing 1 is dark and transparent in the de-energized state. In connection with the charge storage role, the color development of the electrochromic glazing 1 results in an electrical charge of the series-connected capacitor or cell 12 and the discoloration of the electrochromic glazing 1 results in a discharge. For example, at contrast 20, the capacitance of the glazing 1 may be about 300 F / m ² .

In the electrochromic glazing 1, each transition region 13 is parallel to the first surface 6 of the substrate 2, and the maximum width measured perpendicular to the path of the trenches 14 to 16 is preferably 100. It is preferably between 500 μm and 500 μm, more preferably between 150 μm and 250 μm and the distance between two adjacent trenches 14 to 16 in one and the same transition region 13 measured in the same direction is preferably at least 50 μm. In addition, the width of each trench measured in the same direction is preferably in the range of 30 μm to 100 μm.

In Table 1 below, examples of the dimensions of the trenches 14 to 16 and the transition region 13 of the electrochromic glazing 1 are shown.

The width of the transition area The width of the trench Distance between adjacent trenches Example 1 190 μm 30 탆 50 탆 Example 2 240 μm 40 μm 60 μm Example 3 310 μm 50 탆 80 탆

As evidenced by the applicant's experiment, the exemplary embodiment of the electrochromic device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, implemented according to Example 2 of Table 1, is subdivided into 30 cells 12 thereby reducing the switching time. It could be shortened from 60 seconds to 5 seconds.

In Fig. 3 another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic glazing 1 according to the invention is shown. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, differences from the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described in connection with the description thereof. According to FIG. 3, the electrochromic glazing 1 comprises a plurality of diodes 21, which for example consist of a zener diode having a predetermined breakdown voltage. Each diode 21 is coupled to a cell 12. As can be seen from FIG. 3, each diode 21 is series-connected via a common first conductor 22 and is connected to two contact strips 19, 20. From the first conductor 22, the second conductor 23 branches out, which in each case is connected to the first electrode section 17 of the cell 12, so that each cell 12 is reverse-biased ( That is, it is connected to the diode (21) of anti-parallel. The breakdown voltage of the diode 21 is chosen such that the cell 12 is protected from transient overvoltages, which may occur in particular during the switching process. In this embodiment, the breakdown voltage of the diode 21 is, for example, 1.8 volts. In FIG. 3, the diode 21 is connected to the cell 21 via a hybrid, ie an electrical conductor. Alternatively, the diode 21 can be integrated and structured monolithically in correspondence with the cell 12.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the electrochromic glazing 1 according to the invention, different from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with reference to the description thereof. According to FIG. 4, the electrochromic glazing 1 comprises a plurality of opaque (nontransparent) strips 24, attached on a second surface 25 opposite to the first surface 6 of the substrate 2. . The strip 24 is arranged to completely cover the transition region 13 in the section of the transition region 13 so that the observer can no longer see the transition region 13 here. Thus, the aesthetic appearance of the electrochromic glazing 1 can be improved.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the electrochromic glazing 1 according to the invention, different from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with reference to the description thereof. According to FIG. 5, the layer structure 5 of the electrochromic glazing 1 has two cell regions electrically insulated from one another by a fourth trench 26 running perpendicular to the first to third trenches 14 to 16. Subdivided into (27, 28), each cell region contains four series-connected electrochromic cells. The two cell regions 27, 28 are connected in parallel by two contact strips 19, 20. For this purpose, the first contact strip 19 is connected to two terminal first electrode sections 17, and the second contact strip 20 is connected to two terminal second electrode sections 18. In addition, the two battery regions 27, 28 each have their own first and second contact strips 19, 20 and are self-contained (connected in parallel as a hybrid or monolithically integrated) ( It can also be configured as a sub) module. In addition, each battery region may have its own substrate 2. Although not shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of fourth trenches 26 may be provided, whereby the layer structure 5 is subdivided into more than two battery regions 27, 28.

The electrochromic glazing 1 shown in the figures can be produced, for example, in the following way:

(B) attaching a first electrode layer (7), followed by a second active layer (8) and an electrolyte layer (9) on the substrate (2);

형성 formation of the first trenches 14 and, accordingly, in particular, the structuring of the first electrode layer 7,

부착 adhesion of the first active layer 10, and in the process to fill the first trench 14,

형성 formation of the third trench 16, and thus, in particular, the structure of the two active layers 8, 10,

부착 attaching the second electrode layer 11, and filling the third trench 16 in the process,

형성 formation of the second trenches 15 and, accordingly, in particular, the structure of the second electrode layer 11,

생성 creation of two contact strips 19, 20, wherein the first contact strip 19 is connected to the positive connection 3 of the power supply, the second contact strip 20 is connected to the negative connection 4,

부착 any attachment of the strip 24 on the substrate 2,

부가 any addition of a top coating or lamination layer, and filling the second trench 15 in the process,

(B) random connection to another (transparent) substrate such that the layer structure 5 is disposed between the two substrates.

Alternatively, the first electrode layer 7 is formed by structuring the first trench 14 immediately after its attachment, followed by attaching and structuring the other layers. In this process, the first trench 14 is filled with the material of the second active layer 8.

The trenches 14-16 may be formed by a variety of conventional techniques, in particular for this purpose laser writing or laser ablation, mechanical ablation, liftoff techniques, or etching pastes. Etching techniques such as using may be used. In laser ablation, the first trench 14 is a laser in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range, the second trench 15 is a laser of 532 nm or 1064 nm wavelength, and the third trench 16 is a 532 nm wavelength. It may be desirable to form with a laser. The strip 24 may be attached onto the substrate 2, for example by cover screen printing, but any other suitable technique may be used.

The present invention can provide electrochromic glazing with a shorter switching time compared to conventional similar glazings by subdividing into electrochromic cells, especially in the representative area glazing. The monolithic series-connected battery can be produced cost-effectively in an industrial series cell production facility by conventional techniques. The trenches 14 contained in the optically inert transition region appear fine lines to the viewer and may be covered by opaque strips to improve appearance. In particular, they can serve as distinctive features for fast switching electrochromic glazing. Each electrochromic cell can be protected from transient voltage peaks by anti-parallel connected diodes. The total voltage applied to the electrochromic glazing for the switching process may be selected as required, for example not to exceed the maximum to meet legal requirements. The voltage applied to each cell during the switching process can be determined by the number of cells. The plurality of battery regions connected in parallel enables the production of large electrochromic glazings without undesirably increasing the required switching voltage.

One aspect of the invention is an electrochromic glazing 1 having at least one substrate 2 and a layer structure 5 attached on the substrate 2, wherein the layer structure 5 comprises at least two electrode layers ( 7, 11) and a first electrochemically active layer 10 and a second electrochemically active layer 8 disposed therebetween, the active layers being respectively suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, the first active layer 10 being electrically Electrochromic glazing consisting of a discoloring material and acting as a chromophoric layer, the second active layer 8 serving as an ion storage layer, and the two active layers 8 and 10 separated from one another by an electrolyte layer 9. It includes (1). The layer structure 5 is subdivided into electrochromic cells 12 series-connected by one or a plurality of transition regions 13, each transition region 13 being

A first trench 14 subdividing the first electrode layer 7 of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections 17 electrically insulated from each other,

A second trench 15 subdividing the second electrode layer 11 of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections 18 electrically insulated from each other, and

Disposed between the first trench 14 and the second trench 15, and electrically connecting the first electrode section 17 and the second electrode section 18 of the cells 12 adjacent to the transition region 13 to each other. The third trench 16 is filled with an electrically conductive material to which it is connected.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method of making an electrochromic glazing 1, the method of

A substrate 2 and a layer structure 5 attached on the substrate 2, the layer structure 5 comprising at least two electrode layers 7, 11 and a first electrochemically active layer 10 disposed therebetween. ) And a second electrochemically active layer 8, the active layers are each suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, the first active layer 10 is made of an electrochromic material and acts as a chromophoric layer, and the second active layer 8 is A step of producing a layer structure 5, which acts as an ion storage layer, wherein the two active layers 8, 10 are separated from each other by an electrolyte layer 9;

(B) generating a first trench 14 subdividing the first electrode layer 7 of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections 17 electrically insulated from each other;

Generating a second trench 15 subdividing the second electrode layer 11 of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections 18 electrically insulated from each other; And

A third filled with an electrically conductive material disposed between the first trench 14 and the second trench 15, respectively, which electrically connects the first electrode section 17 and the second electrode section 18 to each other. Creating a trench 16.

1 Electrochromic Glazing
2 boards
3 positive connection
4 negative connection
5 layer structure
6 first surface
7 First electrode layer
8 second active layer
9 electrolyte layer
10 first active layer
11 second electrode layer
12 cells
13 transition area
14 first trench
15 second trench
16 third trench
17 first electrode section
18 second electrode section
19 first contact strip
20 second contact strip
21 diodes
22 Primary conductor
23 Second Conductor
24 strips
25 second surface
26th trench
27 first battery area
28 Second battery area

Claims (15)

It has at least one substrate 2 and a layer structure 5 attached on the substrate 2, said layer structure 5 having at least two electrode layers 7, 11 and a first electrical disposed therebetween. It has a chemically active layer 10 and a second electrochemically active layer 8, the active layers are each suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, the first active layer 10 is made of an electrochromic material, the two active layers (8, 10) Are separated from each other by the electrolyte layer 9,
The layer structure 5 is subdivided into electrochromic cells 12 series-connected by one or a plurality of transition regions 13, with each transition region 13
A first trench 14 subdividing the first electrode layer 7 of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections 17 electrically insulated from each other,
A second trench 15 which subdivides the second electrode layer 11 of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections 18 electrically insulated from each other, and
Disposed between the first trench 14 and the second trench 15, and electrically connecting the first electrode section 17 and the second electrode section 18 of the cells 12 adjacent to the transition region 13 to each other. Electrochromic glazing (1), characterized in that it comprises a third trench (16) filled with an electrically conductive material. 2. The second electrode layer (11) according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode layer (11) is disposed on the first electrode layer (7) and the third trenches (16) of each transition region (13) are filled with an electrically conductive material of the second electrode layer (11). Electrochromic glazing (1), characterized in that. 3. The electricity according to claim 1, wherein the first trench 14 of each transition region 13 is filled with the material of one of the two active layers 8, 10 or the electrolyte layer 9. Discoloration glazing (1). 4. Electrochromic glazing (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first trenches (14) of each transition region (13) are filled with the material of the active layer (10) disposed over each other active layer (8). 5. The electricity according to claim 2, wherein the second trenches 15 in each transition region 13 subdivide the layer structure 5 up to the first electrode section 17. 6. Discoloration glazing (1). The layer structure (5) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the layer structure (5) comprises a top coating made of an electrically insulating material, disposed over the second electrode layer (11), and the second of each transition region (13). Electrochromic glazing (1), characterized in that the trench (15) is filled with an insulating material of the top coating. 7. A voltage limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cell 12 is provided with a voltage limiting device, which can be configured in the form of an anti-parallel-connected diode 21, in particular having a predetermined breakdown voltage. Electrochromic glazing, characterized in that (1). Electrochromic glazing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum width of each transition region (13) is in the range of 100 µm to 500 µm, preferably 150 µm to 250 µm. . 9. Electrochromic glazing (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the distance between adjacent trenches (14-16) in one and the same transition region (13) is at least 50 μm. 10. Electrochromic glazing (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the width of each trench (14-16) is in the range of 30 µm to 100 µm. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein on the opposite surface 25, on which the layer structure 5 of the substrate 2 is laminated, each of which engages and completely covers the transition region 13, or Electrochromic glazing (1), characterized in that a plurality of opaque cover elements (24) are provided. Electrochromic glazing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer structure (5) is arranged between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate. The layer structure (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer structure (5) is subdivided into a plurality of battery regions (27, 28) electrically insulated from each other by one or a plurality of fourth trenches (26). Regions 27 and 28 each contain a plurality of series-connected electrochromic cells 12 and are characterized in that they are connected in parallel. A substrate 2 and a layer structure 5 attached on the substrate 2, the layer structure 5 comprising at least two electrode layers 7, 11 and a first electrochemically active layer disposed therebetween ( 10) and a second electrochemically active layer (8), the active layers are each suitable for the reversible incorporation of ions, the first active layer (10) consists of an electrochromic material, and the two active layers (8, 10) are electrolyte layers A step of producing the layer structure 5 separated from each other by (9);
Generating a first trench 14 which subdivides the first electrode layer 7 of the two electrode layers into first electrode sections 17 electrically insulated from each other;
Generating a second trench 15 which subdivides the second electrode layer 11 of the two electrode layers into second electrode sections 18 electrically insulated from each other; And
An agent filled with an electrically conductive material disposed between the first trench 14 and the second trench 15, respectively, which electrically connects the first electrode section 17 and the second electrode section 18 to each other. 3 Generation of Trench 16
Including, the manufacturing method of the electrochromic glazing (1). Use of the electrochromic glazing (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13 as a means for at least partly separating spaces in building facilities and / or automobiles and / or aircrafts and / or ships.

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